Folding picnic table



J. VILLEMURE 2,717,028

FOLDING PICNIC TABLE Sept. 6 1955 Filed Oct. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Joseph VI'I/emure INVENTOR.

BY W-m,

P 6 1955 J. VILLEMURE FOLDING PICNIC TABLE 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Oct. 12, 1954 Fig.5

llllll Joseph VII/emure INVENTOR.

Anon-7s FOLDING PICNIC TABLE Joseph Villemure, New/berry, Mich.

Application October 12, 1954, Serial No. 461,744 Claims. (Cl..155--.124)

This invention relates to the class of furniture and more particularly relates to a'novel folding picnic table.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a folding picnic table which is capable of seating comfortably a number of persons yet which may be folded into a very small compass for easy portation and storage in the trunk compartment of a conventional automotive vehicle.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a folding picnic'tab'le which is adapted to be assembled in a convenient and rapid manner Without the necessity for special tools .of any type and which when assembled is extremely rigid and safe to use. v

Still another object of theinvention resides in the provision of a folding picnic table which may be disassembled and folded so that all'parts thereof may be arranged in a single comparatively small bundle which may be strapped or otherwise secured in a convenient manner.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a folding picnic table that isstrong and a ple in construction and manufacture, relatively inexpensive to produce and highly attractive in appearance.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this folding picnic table, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the folding picnic table comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is another vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2 transverse to the view of the invention shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 44 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the picnic table shown in a folded position;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 66 in Figure 5 illustrating the manner in which the picnic table may be stacked in a folded position;

Figure 7 is a partial bottom plan view of the picnic table shown in an extended position;

Figure 8 is a partial plan View showing the manner in which the legs may be folded, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the attaching means provided for the seats.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved folding picnic table comprising the present invention which includes a conventional table top member 12 having outwardly depending side flanges 14 and 16 and to which there is hingedly 2,717,028 Patented Sept.'6, 1955 secured side table top members 18 and 20 also provided respectively with flanges 22, 24, and 26, 28.

Hingedly secured to the flanges 24 and 28 are a pair of legs 30 and 32 which extend downwardly and divergently away from the table top members. Other legs 34 and 36 are hingedly secured in a downwardly di verging manner to the side table top members 18 and 20' respectively. The side table top members 18 and 20 are hingedly secured to the central top member 12 by means of sets of hinges as are indicated at 38. Pivotally secured in any suitable manner to the side table top members 18 and 20 are braces 40 and 42 which are adapted torespectively engage stops as at 44 and 46 which are secured to the opposite side table top member 18 or 20 from which the brace 40 or 42 is secured.

The pairs of legs 30, 32 and 34, 36 are each rabbeted to form aligned grooves as at 48, 52 and 50, 54 for reception of pairs of side support members 56 and 58, respectively, secured to the legs by means of Wing nut and bolt assemblies 60 extending through apertures as at 62.

in the legs and through other aligned apertures 64 in the side support members 56 and 58.

Each of the side frame members 56 and 58 as is best,

seen in Figure 9 have recesses or grooves -therein which are adapted to receive pegs or lugs 72 attached to downwardly extending and spaced guide pieces as at 74, 76 which depend from a seat member 78, and as-at80 and 82 depending from an opposite seat .84. The pegs or lugs 72 are adapted to be inserted into the recesses 70 with the seats 78 and 84 being supported by the side support members 56 and 58.

It is to be recognized that the entire folding picnic table can be readily assembled since the only fasteners necessary are the wing nut assemblies 60. Further, be-

cause of the wing nuts no tools are necessary and the Wing nuts may be readily tightened by the hands of the person assembling the picnic table.

The picnic table may be readily disassembled by detaching the wing nut assemblies 60 and then as can be best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the side table .top members .18 and 20 can be folded at right angles relative to the central table top member 12. Then, with the legs folded in parallel relation as can be best seen in Figure 5, and with the braces 40 arranged parallel to the legs as is to be seen in Figure 8, the seats 78 and 84 as well as the side support members 56 and 58 can be positioned between the side flanges 14 and 16 of the central table top member 12. Then, utilizing straps 90, the folding picnic table can be arranged in a comparatively compact package and may be readily stored in the trunk of any conventional automotive vehicle.

Diagonal braces 86 and 88 are provided, the upper ends of which seat in recesses 90 and 92 in the flanges 14 and 16. The lower ends of the braces 94 and 88 are received in notches 96 and 96 in the side frame members those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the in-- vention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A folding picnic table comprising a central table top member, side table top members hingedly secured to said central table top member, pairs of legs hingedly secured to said side tabletop members, said legs being grooved, side support members received in said grooves and detachably secured to said legs to hold said legs in an extended position, and seats carried by said side support members spaced downwardly and outwardly away from said side table top members.

.2. A folding picnic table comprising a central table top member, side table top members hingedly secured to said central table top member, pairs of legs hingedly secured to said side table top members, said legs being grooved, side support members received in said grooves and detachably secured to said legs to hold said legs in an extended position, and seats carried by said side support members spaced downwardly and outwardly away from said side table top members, and means lockingly holding said side table top members and said central table top member in a planar position.

3. A folding picnic table comprising a central table top member, side table top members hingedly secured to said central table top member, pairs of legs hingedly secured to said side table top members, said legs being grooved, side support members received in said grooves and detachably secured to said legs to hold said legs in an extended position, and seats carried by said side support members spaced downwardly and outwardly away from said side table top members, said seats having downwardly extending guide pieces engaging said side support members, recesses in said side support members, and lugs carried by said guide pieces engageable in said recesses.

4. A folding picnic table comprising a central table top member, side table top members hingedly secured to said central table top member, pairs of legs hingedly secured to said side table top members, said legs being grooved, side support members received in said grooves and detachably secured to said legs to hold said legs in an ex- 5. A folding picnic table comprising a central elongated top panel member, a pair of side panel members pivotally secured on opposite longitudinal edge portions of the central panel, transverse brace elements pivotally secured on an undersurface portion of one of the side panel members and removably secured on an undersurface portion of the other side panel member, said brace elements being extendable transversely of the relatively pivotal edge portions of thecentral and side panel members for forming a relatively stable picnic table top, transverse depending side flange elements secured on an undersurface portion of each of the panel members adjacent opposite end portions thereof, said side flange elements including mortise end portions adjacent the side edges of the adjacent edge portion of the panel members, said mortise ends being engageable when the end panel members are pivoted away from an upper surface of the central panel member for forming an end trough therewith, the transverse side flange elements of the end panels each having pivotally secured thereto one end of a leg member pivotal toward each other into underlying relationshipon a lower surface portion of said side panel members, said leg members being detachably connectable to intermediate portions of side support members, said side support members including seat supporting end portions extending beyond the legrnembers, the end portions of said side support members on the same side thereof removably supporting longitudinally extending seat members on an upper'surface portion thereof, and a pair of removable longitudinally extending brace elements extending from a transverse side flange element at one end of the transverse side support member at the other end of the respective panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,351,013 Stine Aug. 24, 1920 1 ,585,954 Widrnark May 25, 1926 2,537,127 Giberson Jan. 9, 1951 2,583,247 Aja et al. Jan. 22, 9152 2,662,583 Coe Dec. 15, 1953 we; a. a 

